Replacement handle



Aug. 29, 1961 B. J. ELSKAMP 2,998,155

REPLACEMENT HANDLE Filed June 2, 1958 FIL i INVENTOR. BERNHAR'D J. ELSHQMF A fie/my 2,998,155 REPLACEMENT HANDLE Bernhard J. Elskamp, 4171 S. 1st St., Milwaukee 7, Wis. Filed June 2, 1958, Ser. No. 739,347 3 Claims. (Cl. 217-425) This invention relates to replacement handles for various types of baskets.

The vast majority of commercially used baskets are provided with fixedly positioned relatively light gauge wire handles to facilitate carrying the same. In most instances these light gauge wire handles cause considerable discomfort to a person lifting or transporting such a basket when it contains a relatively heavy load.

Frequently these baskets are utilized for household purposes among which are their use in transporting wet laundry from the basement to the yard where the clothes are hung to be dried. One of the common receptacles used for this purpose is the ordinary bushel basket. Frequently the weight of the laundry carried in the basket is sufficient to cause the thin wire handles to bite into the flesh of the fingers to the great annoyance of the housewife.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved replacement handle which may be releasably attached to the upper marginal portion of a bushel basket or similar receptacle to afford greater comfort and convenience in the carrying of relatively heavy loads.

Another object resides in the provision in a replacement handle of a gripping element of sulficient diameter to insure the comfortable carrying of relatively heavy loads.

Another object resides in the provision of a new and improved replacement handle adapted for releasable positioning on the basket that includes means for retaining the replacement handle in fixed upright position on the upper marginal portion of the basket.

Another object resides in the provision of a replacement handle that includes prong portions which are readily insertable through the wall of the basket to effect the positioning of the handle thereon.

Another object resides in the provision of latching elements adapted to be slidably received over the free ends of the prong portions of the handle to releasably retain the replacement handles in fixed upright position on the top rim of the basket.

A more specific object resides in the particular format-ion of the part of the bail that encompasses the marginal portion of the basket to facilitate its ready application to and releasably fixed positioning on the basket.

Another specific object resides in the provision of a latching means in the form of a sleeve which is slidably mounted on the bail and positionable to encompass the free end of the prong to retain the replacement handle in fixed position upon the basket.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 illustrates the application of a pair of replacement handles, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, on the upper marginal edge of a bushel basket;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the replacement handle;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the handle showing the prong portion thereof in normal open position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the replacement handle in fixed latched position on the marginal portion of the bushel basket; and

nited States Patent FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken on a line 55 of FIG. 4, showing the latching means encompassing the prong portion of the replacement handle to releasably retain it in fixed upright position on the marginal portion of the bushel basket.

The replacement handle 10, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, comprises a gripping element 11 formed of wood or other suitable material such as plastic and having a diameter of sufiicient size to provide botha comfortable grip and insurance against a cutting action on the hands in spite of relatively heavy loads carried in the basket. The gripping element 11 is provided with an axial bore 12 through which a bail 13, in unformed condition, is insertable The bail 113 is made of relatively stifi wire of fairly heavy gauge and after insertion through the bore 12 of the gripping element 11 is bent into an inverted U-shaped form. The U -shaped bail comprises a base portion 14 which extends through the axial bore 12 of the gripping element 11. A pair of substantially parallel leg portions 15, which lie in a common plane, are disposed at a right angle of the axis of the base portion 14. A reverse bend 16 is formed at the lower extremity of each leg 15 to form an upwardly and outwardly projecting prong member 17. The radius of the reverse bend 16 is of sufficient size to accommodate the thickness of the marginal upper rim of the bushel basket. A bend 18 formed on the prong 17 in spaced relationship with the reverse bend 16 directs a portion of the prong 17 toward the adjacent leg 15 of the bail 13. The second bend 19 disposed more remotely from the reverse bend 16 than the bend 18 directs the remaining portion of the prong 17 upwardly and substantially parallel to that portion of the prong disposed between the reverse bend 16 and the bend 18. Since the bail 13 is formed of relatively stiff wire, the prong portion 17 thereof may be pressed to position the free end of the prong 17 adjacent to and parallel with the shank of the leg 15. To insure the releasable retention of the free end of the prong 17 adjacent the shank of the leg 15, a sleeve element 20 is slidably positioned on the shank portion of the leg 15. The sleeve element 20 is raised to the position shown in FIG. 3 before the free end of the prong is moved toward the shank of the leg 15 and when the free end of the prong 17 is properly positioned adjacent the shank of the leg 15, the sleeve 20 is lowered over the free end of the prong 17 to effect a latching engagement therewith to releasably retain the replacement handle 10 in fixed vertical position on the rim of the basket through the medium of the gripping action between the lower portion of the leg 15 and the prong 17 on the marginal portion of the basket.

To apply the replacement handle to the upper marginal portion of the bushel basket, the sleeve elements 20 are lifted to permit the prong portions 17 of the bail 13 to assume their normal outwardly and upwardly directed positions. The handle is then lowered into the basket and the prongs directed through the space between adjacent slats of the basket or other suitable openings therein so that the prong portion 17 of the replacement handle 10 are disposed on the outside of the basket. The handle is then raised to a position wherein the reverse bend 16 formed on the legs 15 engage the bottom marginal edge of circumferentially disposed inner and outer bands 21 and 22 which form an integral part of the basket. The individual prongs 17 are then pressed inwardly to a position wherein their upper free ends are disposed adjacent and parallel to the shank portion of the leg 15 and the sleeve 20 is then moved to a position wherein it encompasses the free end of the prong 17 to releasably retain the same in gripping engagement with the outer surface of the band 22 so that the pressure between the prong portion 17 and the shank of the adjacent leg 15 grips 3 the inner and Outer bands 21 and 22 of the basket to releasabl retain the replacement handle in fixed Upright position on the basket.

From the foregoing description, it will readily be underthat a simple, inexpensive and efiective replacement handle has been provided for application to the upper marginal edge of a basket or container. Another advan= tage of the present device resides in the fact that the removable attachment of the handles to the basket permits their easy' transfer from one basket to another. 7

While the invention has been described in considerable detail in the foregoing specification, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its embodiment Without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

I 1. The combination with a splint basket having a hoop forming its upper edge, of a removably applied replacernent carrying handle therefor, said carrying handle com prising" a wire bail, a gripping element on said bail, a pair of substantially parallel legs on said bail each having a portion disposed in contact with the outer surface of the hoop throughout its entire depth, a reverse bend at the lower end of each of said legs, said reverse bend engaging the bottom edge of the hoop to form a support therefor,

face of the hoop throughout its entire depth, a terminal portion on each of said prongs disposed above the upper edge of the hoop, and latching means on each of said legs engaging said terminal portion of its associated prong to releasably retain said replacement handle in fixed position on the hoop of the basket.

2. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, in which said gripping element is of sufficient diameter to insure comfortable carrying of the basket.

3. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, in which said latching means comprises a sleeve element slidably mounted on each of said legs.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,097,025 Idaka May 19, 1914 1,453,107 Hamm Apr. 24, 1923 1,958,562 Benning May 15, 1934 1,958,576 Hile May 15, 1934 2,050,911 Adams Aug. 11, 1936 2,162,739 Mindek June 20, 1939 2,576,259 McGuire -2 Nov. 27, 1951 2,758,740 Lambert Aug. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 436,658 Germany Nov. 5, 1926 

